Carpet tape dispenser

ABSTRACT

A DISPENSER FOR CARPET SEAMING TAPE DIMENSIONED FOR MOUNTING BETWEEN UPTURNED JUXTAPOSED EDGES OF ADJACENT CARPET SECTIONS TO BE SEAMED AND FORMED FOR DIRECTIONAL RELEASE OF TAPE PARALLEL TO SUCH EDGES; AND MEANS ON THE DISPENSER FOR ENGAGEMENT WITH AND FOR BEARING UPON THE UPTURNED CARPET EDGES FOR RETAINING THE DISPENSER CENTRALLY BETWEEN THE EDGES UPON DISPLACEMENT LONGITUDINALLY THEREOF THEREBY EFFECTING AUTOMATICALLY THE LAYING OF A STRIP OF TAPE CENTRALLY OF AND UNDERLYING THE CARPET EDGES TO BE SEAMED.

y 1973 M. RJHOOPENGARDNER 3,748,211

CARPET TAPE DISPENSER Filed June 30, 1971 4 Sheets-S'neet 1 28 INVENTOR.

Merle R. Hoopengardner BY Map/cw, fzuh'w, mm

, uZUu/u'm Attorneys July 24, 1973 M. R. HOOPENGARDNER 3,743,211

CARPET TAPE DISPENSER Filed June 30, 1971 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.Merle R. Hoopengardner BY Mia/yum. Mai L Attorneys y 1973 M. R.HOOPENGARDNER 3,743,211

CARPET TAPE DISPENSER Filed June so, 1971 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 I 135INVENTOR.

- J 5/ v 236 5/ BY Merle R Hooeengardner F I 9 3M Via/mm /Lwckv) 1973 M.R. HOOPENGARDNER 3,748,211

CARPET TAPE DISPENSER 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed June 30, 1971 Fig. /2

Fig.

mvrswroa Merle R. Hoopengardner 1W E M M g CMMM Arzarneys United StatesPatent 3,748,211 CARPET TAPE DISPENSER Merle R. Hoopengardner, 2509Myrtle St, Oakland, Calif. 94607 Filed June 30, 1971, Ser. No. 158,417Int. Cl. B321) 31/04 US. Cl. 156-575 15 Claims ABSTRACT OF THEDISCLGSURE A dispenser for carpet seaming tape dimensioned for mountingbetween upturned juxtaposed edges of adjacent carpet sections to beseamed and formed for directional release of tape parallel to suchedges; and means on the dispenser for engagement with and for bearingupon the upturned carpet edges for retaining the dispenser centrallybetween the edges upon displacement longitudinally thereof therebyeifecting automatically the laying of a strip of tape centrally of andunderlying the carpet edges to be seamed.

The invention relates to the carpet laying art and to the use of anadhesive tape for securing abutting edges of adjacent carpet sections.

In laying many types and grades of carpet, it has been increasinglypopular in recent years to secure the abutting edges forming the seambetween adjacent carpet sections by means of a tape placed under theseam and adhesively secured to the underside of the carpet. This tapewill usually be about 3 /2 to 4 inches in width and is commonly madefrom a paper base, fiberglass or rayon reinforced, and with a layer ofadhesive material on the upper side of the tape in position for adheringto the underside of the carpet at the seam being formed. The use of suchtape has eliminated older carpet laying techniques of sewing adjacentedges together, which has represented one of the most difiicult and timeconsuming tasks in the carpet laying field. The installation of adhesivetape, however, has heretofore been awkward. Normally the carpet is firstcut and laid in place with confronting edges of adjacent sections placedin abutting relation. A length of tape is then cut corresponding to thelength of the seam and is laid over the top of the carpet at the seam.The tape must then be inserted under the carpet by hand and centered byeye. The insertion of the tape under the carpet requires awkwardmanipulation of the carpet edges and tape which becomes much morediflicult as the length of the seam increases.

The present invention eliminates all of the difiiculties andcomplexities above noted in the placement of the tape at the undersideof the carpet seam. In accordance with the present invention, theconfronting edges of the adjacent carpet sections are turned up at oneend of the seam to create an opening between the carpet edges forplacement of the present device. The present dispenser embodies a tapeholder which will automatically pay out tape as the dispenser ismanually pushed lengthwise of the seam; and means is provided on theholder for engagement with the carpet edges for positively and preciselyholding the dispenser on center as the dispenser is run lengthwise ofthe seam. Accordingly, the tape may be placed with precision, easily andquickly, and regardless of the length of the seam to be formed.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a carpet seamingtape dispenser of the character described in which the tape adhesive maybe continuously activated by heat or adhesive activating fluid as thedispenser is advanced along the seam and while the carpet edges are heldin their spaced upturned form thereby assuring a proper adhesion of thecarpet and tape as the carpet sec- "ice tions behind the movingdispenser return to their flat, floor-supported and edge abuttingcondition.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a carpet tapedispenser of the character above and which may also be used forplacement of a double-faced carpet seaming tape along the floor-walljunction of a room and in the place of a nailing strip to secure thecarpet edge in position at such junction.

The invention possesses other objects and features of advantage, some ofwhich of the foregoing will be set forth in the following description ofthe preferred form of the invention which is illustrated in the drawingsaccompanying and forming part of this specification. It is to beunderstood, however, that variations in the showing made by the saiddrawings and description may be adopted within the scope of theinvention as set forth in the claims.

Referring to said drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a carpet tape dispenser constructed inaccordance with the present invention and shown in operative positionbetween carpet sections for positioning of the tape;

FIG. 2 is an end view of the dispenser;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the dispenser;

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of the dispenser;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a modified form of dispenser;

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view of the form of dispenser shown in FIG.5;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a further modified form of dispenser;

FIG. 8 is an end view of dispenser of FIG. 7 and shown in operativeposition for placement of carpet tape at the floor-wall junction of aroom;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a further modified form of thedispenser;

FIG. 11 is a cross sectional view of the dispenser taken substantiallyon the plane of line 11-11 of FIG. 10; and

FIG. 12 is a cross sectional view of the dispenser taken substantiallyin the plane of line 12-12 of FIG. 11.

The carpet seaming tape of the present invention comprises briefiy atape holder 16 dimensioned for mounting between upturned, juxtaposededges 17 and 18 of adjacent carpet sections 2!]. and 22 to be seamed andformed for directional release of tape 23 parallel to and underlyingedges 17 and 18, and means 26 and 27 on holder 16 for engagement withand for hearing on edges 17 and 18 for retaining the holder centrallybetween the edges upon displacement of the holder longitudinally of theedges to thereby lay a strip of tape centrally of and underlying theedges as depicted in FIG. 1. As will be best seen in FIGS. 1 and 2,means 26 and 27 project laterally from opposite sides 28 and 29 of theholder for support on the upturned carpet edges 17 and 18; and theholder, as best seen in FIG. 4, is provided with a tape dischargepassage 31 adjacent the bottom 32. of the holder so that the point ofdischarge of the tape from the holder will aways be below the upturnedcarpet edges 17 and 18.

Preferably, the holder is formed for rotational support of a roll 33 ofcarpet tape with the side walls 28 and 29 of the holder spaced apart forretaining the opposite sides 36 and 37 of the roll 33 therebetween forcentering the roll in the holder and with respect to discharge passage31. The holder as depicted in FIG. 1 is also provided with end walls 38and 39 so as to form a substantially rectangular enclosure for the taperoll with the end walls being spaced apart to retain the periphery ofthe roll in the enclosure for joint displacement of the holder and rolllongitudinally of the carpet edges. Means 26 and 27 here comprise a pairof longitudinally extending flanges projecting exteriorly from sidewalls 2-8 and 29. The holder may be formed most conveniently andinexpensively as essentially a cardboard box in which the tape rolls maybe packaged; and in such case, flanges 26 and 27 may be merely foldedout from the side wall of the box structure, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

The weight of the tape roll may be used advantageously as a centralizingforce by supporting the roll on bottom wall 32 which, in turn, transfersthe roll weight to the upturned carpet edges via flanges 26 and 27.Upturned carpet edges 17 and 18 will engage the opposite sides 28 and 29of the holder and the undersides of flanges 26 and 27 so as to therebyconstantly position the holder on center with respect to the carpet seambeing formed. As tape is paid out of the holder, the size and weight ofroll 33 will decrease and the holder will tend to ride on the top of thecarpet edges with the bottom 32 in spaced relation to the floor. In anycase, fully or lightly weighted, the holder will move very freelylongitudinally of the carpet seam being formed when manually pushed downthe seam. This easy and free motion of the holder and tape roll obtainswhen the tape discharge passage 31 is provided in the bottom 32 of theholder, as seen in FIG. 4, or in an end wall of the holder, as seen inother embodiments of the invention herein.

The placement of the dispenser between the upturned carpet edges 17 and18 produces elongated openings between the carpet sections ahead of andbehind the advancing dispenser. Advantage is taken of the opening 42thus provided over the tape 23 being paid out of the dispenser foractivating adhesive 43 on the tape. Various adhesives may be used suchas heat activated thermoplastic, as shown in FIG. 1; fluid activatedadhesive, as shown in FIG. and an adhesive parting sheet, as shown inFIG. 7. In any case, the opening 42 behind the dispenser provides accessto the tape for the application of heat or fluid or for the removal ofthe parting sheet. A thermosetting resin adhesive 43 is shown on the topside of tape 23 in FIG. 1. This adhesive may be laid in transverseridges as shown to permit coiling of the tape. It is activated by heat.An electric hand iron is. made for this purpose and may be positionedwithin opening 42 at the rear side 38 of the holder. The operator mayuse the iron when positioned on adhesive 43 to move the container alongthe seam so that the thermosetting adhesive is melted as the tape is fedout of the dispenser. As hereinabove noted, the upraised carpet edgeswill automatically close back together rearwardly of the dispenser as itis advanced along the seam so as to automatically come back intoabutting position on the melted, activated adhesive.

A modified form of the invention is illustrated in FIG. 5 wherein afluid dispensing means 46 is mounted on holder 16a in position fordischarging fluid onto the upper surface of discharged tape 23a. Means46 here consists of an inverted plastic squeeze bottle demountablysecured by a bracket or clip 47 to end wall 38a of the holder and isprovided with a brush type applicator 48 for applying the fluid contentof container 46 to the upper side of tape 23a. The operator may push thedispenser along the seam by pushing on squeeze bottle 46 thusautomatically discharging fluid onto the tape being paid out. Varioustypes of adhesive may be used, such as latex or other liquid adhesives,which may be mounted in and discharged from container 46. Also, atwo-component type of adhesive may be used with one component beingplaced on the tape at the time of its manufacture and a secondactivating component mounted in container 46. In this form of theinvention, the tape discharge opening 31a may be provided in the base ofend wall 38a adjacent bottom 32a.

A further adaptation of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 7, 8 and9 for laying down on a floor 51 a length of tape 23b at the wall 52junction. In this case, one flange 26b is moved to a flattened positionon its adjacent side wall ZSb so as to provide a flat area forpositioning against the room wall 52. The opposite flange 27b is foldedout, as illustrated in FIG. 8, so as to engage the upper edge 18b ofcarpet section 22b which is to be laid up to wall 52. The dispenser isthus constantly urged by the carpet against wall 52 as the dispenser ismoved along the base of the wall for the placement of a length of tape23!; thereat. Normally, a tacking strip is nailed to the floor at wall52 for securing the carpet edge. To replace this tacking strip, adouble-faced tape is preferably used, that is a tape which is adhesivelycoated on both sides. A parting sheet 54 may be mounted on the normallyupper side of the tape so as to facilitate the preparation of the tapein roll form and the subsequent unrolling thereof on the job. In suchcase, the parting sheet 54 may be withdrawn from the upper surface ofthe tape through the carpet opening provided at the trailing end 38b ofthe dispenser. In the structure, as illustrated, the tape dischargeopening 31b is provided in wall 38b. Tape 23b will adhere to the floor51 due to the adhesive coating on its underside and will adhere to theunderside of carpet edge portion 18b by means of the adhesive coating onits upper side which is exposed by peeling off of parting sheet 54.

A further modified form of the invention is illustrated in FIG. 10wherein the dispenser is designed as a more permanent tool for receivingand demountably supporting tape rolls 33c and, more particularly, taperolls having center openings 56. The dispenser here consists briefly ofa U-shaped holder having substantially parallel side Walls 28c and 29cspaced apart for retaining the opposite sides of roll 33c therebetween;and a shaft 57 demountably secured to walls 28c and 29c perpendicularlythereto and dimensioned for threading through the roll center opening 56for retaining the roll within the container. The holder may beconveniently formed of U-shape having a bottom 32c supporting side walls28c and 29c, and due to the use of shaft 57 for supporting roll 330, endwalls may be deleted. Flanges 26c and 270 are secured to side walls 28cand 290 and project therefrom for engagement with the upturned carpetedges as in the earlier described forms of the invention.

Shaft 57 is here demountably secured in open top slots 58 and 59 formedin the upper ends of walls 280 and 290, and may be retained in the slotsby providing the opposite ends of the shaft with reduced neck portions61 and 62 dimensioned to fit in slots 58 and 59. Normally, the tape 230will be fed from the bottom of the roll through the open end wall of theholder. This condition will obtain for rolls having the adhesive on theinterior side of the tape, such as illustrated in FIG. I. Where theadhesive is mounted on the exterior side of the tape, the tape will befed from the top side of the roll and brought down and under a roller 63mounted across walls 280 and 29c in spaced relation to bottom 32c at thetrailing end of the dispenser. The spacing of roller 63 from bottom 32cdefines a tape discharge opening 310 between the two similar todischarge openings 31a and 31b in the earlier described forms of theinvention. The extension of the tape from the top of the roll 33c downand under roller 63 causes the exterior tape side of the roll to appearuppermost as the tape is paid out of the dispenser.

Any of the forms of the invention may be used for back seaming ofcarpet. In such case, the carpet sections are inverted with theirnormally base side uppermost and laid edge to edge as in the normalseaming operation. In such case, the tape will be usually fed from thetop of the roll as the dispenser is moved along the seam with the carpetedges engaged under the side flanges so as to deposit the tape on thetop side of the carpet. In such case, the tape is rolled so as toposition the adhesive on the interior or underside of the tape.

I claim:

1. A carpet seaming tape dispenser comprising:

a tape holder dimensioned for mounting between upturned juxtaposed edgesof adjacent carpet sections to be seamed and formed for directionalrelease of tape parallel to and underlying said edges; and

means on said holder for engagement with and for bearing on said edgesfor retaining said holder centrally between said edges upon displacementof said holder longitudinally of said edges to thereby lay a strip oftape centrally of and underlying said edges.

2. A dispenser as defined in claim 1:

said means projecting laterally from opposite sides of said holder forsupport on said upturned carpet edges; and

said holder providing a tape discharge passage adjacent the bottomthereof.

3. A dispenser as defined in claim 2:

said holder being formed for rotational support of a roll of carpetseaming tape and having substantially parallel side walls spaced apartfor retaining the opposite sides of said roll therebetween for centeringsaid roll in said holder and with respect to said passage; said meansbeing secured to and projecting from said side walls.

4. A dispenser as defined in claim 3, said side walls being formed withlongitudinally extending fianges projecting exteriorly therefrom andproviding said means.

5. A dispenser as defined in claim 4:

said holder having end Walls connected to said side walls to form asubstantially rectangular enclosure for said tape roll with said endwalls being spaced apart to retain the periphery of said roll in saidenclosure for joint displacement of said holder and roll longitudinallyof said carpet edges.

6. A dispenser as defined in claim 5, said holder being formed ofcardboard and said flanges being folded out from said side walls.

7. A dispenser as defined in claim 5:

said holder having a bottom Wall for supporting said roll and forapplying at least a portion of the weight of said roll as a centralizingforce positioning said holder between said edges.

8. A dispenser as defined in claim 8, said bottom wall being formed withan opening therein defining said tape discharge passage.

9. A dispenser as defined in claim 1; and

fluid dispensing means mounted on said holder in position fordischarging fluid onto the upper surface of discharged tape.

10. A dispenser as defined in claim 9, said fluid dispensing meanscomprising:

a flexible walled container mounted at the normally trailing end of saidholder in position for manual engagement for simultaneously displacingsaid holder and discharging fluid from said container.

11. A dispenser as defined in claim 1; and

means demountably securing a roll of tape in said holder.

12. A dispenser as defined in claim 11:

said holder having substantially parallel side walls spaced apart forretaining the opposite sides of said roll therebetween; and

said last named means cofunctioning With tape rolls having centerspacings and comprising a shaft demountably secured to said side wallsprependicularly thereto and dimensioned for threading through rollcenter openings.

13. A carpet tape dispenser for laying down on a floor a length of tapefor securing a carpet edge at a room wall junction comprising:

a holder formed for rotational support of a roll of carpet tape and forsliding support against a room wall with one side of said tape adjacentand parallel thereto and for directional release of tape parallel tosaid wall; and

means on said holder at an opposite side of said roll for engagementwith and for bearing upon the upturned edge of said carpet for retainingsaid holder in position against said wall upon displacement of saidholder over the floor along said wall.

14. A dispenser as defined in claim 13:

said holder having substantially parallel side walls spaced apart forretaining the opposite sides of said roll therebetween; and

flanges connected to said side Walls and projecting laterally therefromto provide said means, at least one of said flanges being movable to aflattened position on its adjacent side wall for positioning against theroom wall.

15. A dispenser as defined in claim 1?:

said holder having end walls connected to said side walls to form asubstantially rectangular enclosure for said tape roll with said endwalls being dimensioned to retain said roll in said enclosure for jointdisplacement; and

one of said end walls being formed with an opening therein defining atape discharge passage.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,645,831 2/ 1972 Thaeler156----52.7 2,918,189 12/1959 Frohbach et a]. r 156-577 2,677,410 5/1954Reinhard 156--574 ALFRED L. LEAVI'IT, Primary Examiner C. WESTON,Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 156-505, 527, 577, 578

